A powerful earthquake hit Morocco on Friday night. The earthquake struck around 11 pm on Friday night. The USGS (US Geological Survey) says that the earthquake had a magnitude of about 6.8. But Morocco’s earthquake center recorded the earthquake as being almost twice that strong.
The quake was one of the most powerful ever recorded in Morocco. It’s also the country’s deadliest earthquake in over 60 years. So far, the earthquake is reported to have killed over 2,680 people. It has injured over 2,500 others. The earthquake was extremely dangerous because it happened at night. Marrakesh is a big city that’s popular with tourists. Many of its modern buildings seem to have survived the earthquake. But the old part of the city, called the Medina, was hit hard. The Medina has buildings that are over 1,000 years old.
Outside of Marrakesh, the earthquake caused even more damage. In the Atlas Mountains, the earthquake’s center, there are many small villages. Some villages were nearly destroyed. Many of the people in the area live in simple houses made of mud bricks. This is a traditional way of building in Morocco. But it’s not strong enough to protect against earthquakes. Many of these houses collapsed. Some of the bricks turned to sand.
Rescue workers have been working hard to save those affected by the quake. In larger cities, rescue efforts seem to be going well.
But it has taken a lot longer for help to reach far areas in the mountains. Many of these villages are difficult to get to. The earthquake caused landslides, blocking roads and making these places even more difficult to reach. In some areas, phone and electrical service were also knocked out, leaving these places completely cut off. That means that the local people in some areas far away have had to deal with the situation on their own.
But more help is coming. Some countries have offered teams of experts; others have offered emergency supplies.
1. Why was the earthquake in Morocco especially dangerous according to the text?| A．It was the strongest on record. | B．There were too many tourists there. |
| C．The buildings there were all too old. | D．It happened when people were asleep. |
| A．Looked beautiful. | B．Fell down. | C．Lasted long. | D．Stood still. |
| A．Causes of the earthquake. | B．Terrible sights after the earthquake. |
| C．Difficulties met in rescuing. | D．Survivors’ efforts to rebuild the city. |
| A．Culture. | B．News. | C．Environment. | D．Tourism. |
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【推荐1】A Wall of Water
At ten o'clock on the morning of May 25, 2009, Nasir Uddin was standing outside his mud house. He noticed that the river next to his house was higher than normal. He looked toward the sea. He suddenly saw a huge wall of brown water. It was rushing toward him. Within minutes, the water came into his house. It washed away the mud walls. Uddin and his three young daughters jumped onto the kitchen table. "I was sure we were all dead," he later said. Incredible, an empty boat passed by. He managed to put his daughters in the boat. He held on to its side. This Bangladeshi family was fortunate. They survived this disaster, but hundreds of their neighbors died.
Floods happen when a river or the sea rises and covers dry land. Unfortunately, Bangladesh often experiences floods. This is because the majority of its land is less than 15 feet（5 meters）above sea level. The sea level is rising because of global warming. As it rises, it covers more land in Bangladesh. In the worst scenario, the country may lose one quarter of its land by the end of the century. This is very serious because millions of people live close to the sea.
Coastal flooding is also very destructive because it covers the land with salty seawater. The salt stays in the soil even after the flood is over. When there is too much salt, farmers cannot grow their crops. This is happening to farming communities in Bangladesh. Frequent coastal flooding is destroying farms and crops. As a result, many farmers can no longer farm. Unfortunately, farmers often have nowhere to go. They cannot move to a new area because Bangladesh is so crowded. In fact, it is one of the most crowded countries in the world.
Bangladeshis face many challenges from flooding. Yet this is a nation of strong people. They are finding solutions. Bangladeshi farmers now grow special rice in salt water. They raise seafood such as shrimp and crab in areas closest to the sea. In addition, they have built huge walls of earth. They hope these walls will keep the sea away from their vegetable farms. They have also built shelters and developed an early-warning system. "Let me tell you about Bangladeshis," says Zakir Kibria, a farming expert. "We may be poor..., but we are not victims."
So, when Uddin lost his home that day, he did what most Bangladeshis do: He rebuilt. This time, however, he built his house out of wood, not mud. He wants his home to survive the next flood.
1. Uddin and his family survived the sudden flood because________.| A．he had noted that there was a huge wall of brown water. |
| B．they were able to rush out of the house before the water came. |
| C．his daughters managed to get on a boat which he had prepared. |
| D．they were very lucky at the key moment while his neighbors weren't. |
| A．case | B．plan | C．imagination | D．picture |
| A．The land there is not very high above sea level. |
| B．Greenhouse effect brings about the increase of sea level. |
| C．People there prefer to live along the coastline rather than move inland. |
| D．Flooding leaves the soil with salt which prevents plants from growing well. |
| A．To inform readers of his recent life. |
| B．To illustrate the spirit of Bangladeshis. |
| C．To introduce a new way of batting floods. |
| D．To inspire readers to treasure their own life. |
【推荐2】You may hear about earthquakes, but do you know what to do before, during and after an earthquake? Here is some advice for you:
Before an earthquake
All family members should know how to turn off gas, water and electricity and know useful telephone numbers (doctor, hospital, police, 119, etc.). Never put heavy things over beds.
During an earthquake
It’s important for each of you to stay calm. If you are indoors, quickly move to a safe place in the room such as under a strong desk or a strong table.
After an earthquake
Check around you and help the people who are in trouble. If your building is badly broken, you should leave it.
| A．It’s necessary to prepare yourself and your family. |
| B．But earthquakes almost never kill people directly. |
| C．Earthquake is one of the most severe natural disasters. |
| D．The purpose is to protect yourself from falling objects. |
| E．If you are outdoors, move to an open area like a playground. |
| F．Once the shaking has stopped, DO NOT run out of the building at once. |
| G．If you smell or hear a gas, get everyone outside and open windows and doors. |
【推荐3】Our ship sailed on the sea into the Earth’s night. Here, there was no visible light from the Sun or the Earth Engines. But as we looked up, we children saw the starry sky for the first time in our lives. How breathtakingly beautiful it was!
Ms Xing put an arm around us while pointing at the sky with her other hand. “Look, children! That is Proxima Centauri (比邻星), our new home!” With these words, tears ran slowly down her face. Before long, we were all in tears—even the captain and crew. We all looked in the direction that Ms Xing was pointing. There was only one point of light among the twinkling stars that shined constantly: Proxima Centauri—the only source of hope and comfort for a hundred future generations. “Whatever risks we might take, we will finally make it there!” said the captain, in an assured voice.
On our way back from the sea, we saw the first sign that Earth had begun its journey. In the night sky, a huge comet had appeared. It was the Moon, abandoned by humankind. Lunar Engines had been installed to the Moon to force it out of its orbit so that a disastrous crash could be avoided as the Earth sped up and moved away. As it progressed, the gravitational tide of the Moon caused the ocean to swell, creating gigantic waves. We quickly got off the ship to our destination in the Southern Hemisphere. The next few days were the countdown to our departure.
Finally came the big day! As Earth Engines was set at a full power, we got immediately blinded by the bright light from it. This acceleration created massive tsunamis hundreds of meters high that crashed onto the coasts of every continent. Burning hot hurricanes roared through the boiling waves, screaming with wild fury and pulling up almost every tree on Earth.
Our Earth, with its blue tail cutting through the darkness of space, had set out on its long journey, and with it went all of humankind.
1. Why did we all cry when looking up into the sky?| A．Because we had to abandon the Earth. |
| B．Because we were fascinated by the stars. |
| C．Because we saw our new settlement. |
| D．Because we felt lonely in the universe. |
| A．To protect the Earth from a deadly impact. |
| B．To make sure the Moon runs in its orbit. |
| C．To keep the moon at the same speed as the Earth. |
| D．To shelter humans from the tide of the Moon. |
| A．Smooth and steady. | B．Endless and hopeless. |
| C．Exciting and entertaining. | D．Ambitious and adventurous. |
| A．A personal diary. | B．A science fiction. |
| C．A travel magazine. | D．An academic article. |
【推荐1】The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards began its life modestly in 2015 as a photographic competition. And this year is no exception. The recently announced winners and finalists of the 2021 competition include a visibly uncomfortable monkey, three gossiping raccoons (浣熊), a joyful bird reunion, a fish who jumps high and an all-powerful prairie dog (土拨鼠).
A group of judges sorts through thousands of submissions from expert and inexperienced photographers alike, and determines one winner for each of the several groups- except for the peoples’ choice award, which is left up to members of the public.
This year’s top prize goes to Ken Jensen. His photo, taken in Yunnan, China, shows a golden silk monkey in a rather uncomfortable position with an appropriately surprised look on its face. The caption (图片配文) reads: “This is actually a show of aggression however in the position that the monkey is in it looks quite painful!” Another crowd favorite shows a pigeon with a flyaway yellow leaf covering its entire face, captioned: “I guess summer’s over.” The shot was taken by John Speirs when fruits and crops became ready to eat and were picked, and leaves fell.
The contest is more than just a delight to see. “The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards was born from the need for a wildlife photography competition that was light-hearted, modest and importantly, could make a difference to animals and our natural world,” reads its website. “Its founders realised that laughter was a uniquely effective tool to engage audiences of all ages and cultures with images of creatures they may never be able to see for themselves - and that the world could lose forever.”
Organizers Tom Sullam and Michelle Wood say they also donate 10% of their total net revenue to conservation organizations that protect endangered wildlife. This year, proceeds are going in Borneo.
Nature is healing, but it still has a long way to go.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．An announcement of awarded works. | B．The birth of the competition. |
| C．An introduction to the event. | D．A group of abnormal animals. |
| A．There were no leaves on the trees. | B．The leaf covering its face was yellow. |
| C．Harvest showed the arrival of autumn. | D．Summer never seemed this cold. |
| A．make viewers laugh. | B．hold a photographic competition. |
| C．raise awareness of wildlife conservation. | D．get people to see animals in a new way. |
| A．Positive. | B．Concerned. | C．Uncaring. | D．Tolerant. |
【推荐2】It’s been four and a half months since 46-year-old man called George Floyd died after pleading he couldn’t breathe as a Minneapolis officer knelt on his neck. The four officers involved were fired and Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on the man’s neck, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. In the days since Floyd’s death, thousands poured onto the country’s streets to protest the killing and those who died before Floyd as a result of police brutality.
The demonstrations began in Minneapolis and spread like wildfire across the U.S.Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Miami, New York City and Chicago all saw crowds demonstrating. Many protests were peaceful, with people holding “Black Lives Matter” and “I can’t breathe” signs, shouting loudly and armed with face masks for protection against coronavirus. But some groups turned violent over the weekend, setting fires to buildings and police cars, breaking through windows of businesses, looting and fighting with police forces. Police responded forcefully, shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowds and arresting hundreds throughout the countries. In New York City, a police vehicle was seen driving through a crowd of protesters. In Atlanta, two officers were fired after their violent arrest of two college students was caught on video. It’s still unclear what the coming days will look like.
To help control the violence, at least 40 cities lawfully established curfews and more than a dozen governors organized National Guard army. In the nation’s capital, a similar scene. Just before 8 p.m. Sunday night, armed officers and protesters remained in a standoff in downtown Washington as crowds threw water bottles at police and police responded with flash bangs and pepper spray. In New York, a group of protesters remained in Manhattan as night fell, facing off with police after several fires were set and some stores were looted. Officials in several cities have warned that those who are looting stores and creating scenes of chaos are not there to protest Floyd’s death.
1. What does the underlined word “brutality” mean in Paragraph 1?| A．thoughtful assistance | B．proper defence |
| C．violent treatment or behavior | D．unfair treatment |
| A．The protests will end in a few days. |
| B．All protesters in the US were peacefully holding signs. |
| C．Police used forceful measures trying to control the situation. |
| D．Acts of violence occurred nationwide such as setting fires to buildings. |
| A．The protesters looted stores to protest Floyd’s death. |
| B．The police brutally arrested the protesters during the demonstrations. |
| C．The protesters will be arrested while taking part in the demonstrations. |
| D．The police responded to the acts of violence with flash bangs and pepper spray. |
| A．Protesters are under control | B．Police commit violent behavior |
| C．George Floyd’s death is sorrowful | D．Racial discrimination sparks violence |
【推荐3】Humanitarian(人道主义的)groups and lawmakers have criticized Italian authorities for preventing migrants who were not considered to be“vulnerable(脆弱的)”from disembarking(登陆)from rescue ships in Sicily on Sunday.
Charities and politicians blamed the selection process as illegal and regarded the actions of the Italian government as inhumane, reported the Associated Press news service, or AP. Italy’s new government is reportedly targeting foreign-flagged rescue ships in a new procedure that is part of a regulation brought about by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.
Italy allowed a rescue ship carrying 179 refugees and migrants to enter a port in Sicily on Sunday and then later begin disembarking children and sick or“vulnerable”people, but 35 men on board were blocked from getting off the ship, reported the Reuters news agency. Later, agencies reported that 144 people had been allowed to disembark the Humanity 1 rescue ship,which sailed under a German flag. In the afternoon,357 people were allowed off the Geo Barents ship operated by Doctors Without Borders, which sails under a Norwegian flag, but 215 people remained blocked on board.
Authorities continued to refuse safe harbor for hundreds of migrants onboard two other ships in nearby waters, said the AP. Humanity 1’s captain refused to leave the port of Catania “until all survivors rescued from great suffering at sea have been disembarked”, said SOS Humanity, the German-run charity that operates the ship. The charity strongly criticized Piantedosi’s decision to only allow vulnerable people to disembark and on Monday said it would launch legal action against the Italian government,claiming Italy’s actions violate European law and the Geneva Refugee Convention.
The BBC noted that Italy is one of the main entry points into Europe, and, according to the United Nations, 85,000 migrants have arrived there on small,overcrowded boats since the start of the year. Italy’s new prime minister,Giorgia Meloni,has promised to take action to stop those making the hazardous journeys across the Mediterranean.
Nongovernmental organizations say coastal nations are responsible by the law of the sea to rescue people who are suffering and that they are responsible to provide a safe port as soon as possible.
Till Rummenhohl，head of operations at SOS Humanity，said people were being “held hostage (人质)”onboard the Humanity 1 vessel.”“We had health authorities onboard who decided who’s weak enough, who is basically in urgent medical case and who’s not,”Rummenhohl told DW News.“The people are not really sure what’s happening to them. They have an uncertain future. They are afraid of being pushed back from Italy, into international waters or even to Libya. That’s their greatest fear,” he said.
1. Why were 35 of the 179 refugees not allowed to leave the ship to enter Italy in the beginning?| A．They were not weak people. | B．They had no certifications. |
| C．The ship was in good condition. | D．The ship sailed under a German flag. |
| A．Comfortable. | B．Thrilling. |
| C．Long. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．Italy’s actions agreed with European law and the Geneva Refugee Convention. |
| B．Illegal migrants should be pushed back into international waters. |
| C．Coastal countries should save people who are suffering at sea. |
| D．Illegal migrants were supposed to be held hostage onboard. |
| A．Italy provides safe shelters for refugees |
| B．Italy prevents migrants from leaving ships |
| C．Humanity 1’s captain refuses to leave the port of Catania |
| D．Many migrants arrive in Italy on small, overcrowded boats |
